Daisuke Matsuzaka

ARTICLES ABOUT DAISUKE MATSUZAKA BY DATE - PAGE 5

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Red Sox 6, Marlins 5 Red Sox 6, Marlins 5: Will Middlebrooks had three hits and four RBIs, including a tying two-run blast in the eighth, and Boston rallied to finish off a three-game sweep of visiting Florida. The Red Sox have won five straight and seven of eight. Middlebrooks tied the game twice, knotting it at 3 with an RBI single in the fifth and tying it at 5 with his eighth home run - a two-run shot to center - against reliever Edward Mujica (0-3)

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Cubs 3, Red Sox 0 Cubs 3, Red Sox 0: Ryan Dempster threw seven scoreless innings and Steve Clevenger laced a two-run double as host Chicago took the series opener from Boston. Dempster (3-3), who has been the subject of rampant trade rumors recently, turned in a dominating effort with plenty of focus directed his way. The veteran right-hander yielded just four hits and walked two while striking out three. Closer Carlos Marmol loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth on a hit, an error and a walk but got Dustin Pedroia to ground into a fielder's choice to lock up his third save.

Red Sox fans gathered early outside Wrigley Field Friday, perhaps hoping to invade the park much like Tigers fans did the day before. Cubs' officials were still watering the outfield grass Friday morning, hoping to re-grow grass that was browned from last weekend's concerts. Meanwhile, Tony Campana hits leadoff and Luis Valbuena bats eighth and plays third base for a second straight day. The pitching matchup takes center stage Friday, with Ryan Dempster facing Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The Sports Xchange Matsuzaka's big-league return spoiled by Nationals BOSTON -- Making his first major league start one day shy of a year since he had Tommy John surgery, Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five strong innings, but was outdueled by Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, as Washington won, 4-2, for the second consecutive game in Boston. Matsuzaka, who admitted to nerves, gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts and a home run. "There were a lot of emotions going through me throughout this week and today on the mound," he said, through team translator Jeff Cutler.

Nationals 4, Red Sox 2: Gio Gonzalez pitched 6 1/3 strong innings to outduel Daisuke Matsuzaka and Adam LaRoche homered as visiting Washington clinched a series win at Fenway Park. Ian Desmond singled in a pair and Michael Morse added an RBI double for the Nationals, who have taken the first two games at Boston and four of their last five overall. The Red Sox have dropped five of six to fall back below .500 at 29-30. Gonzalez, who entered with a 5.79 ERA in five career starts against Boston, dominated through the first six innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.